The Port of Bremerton commissioners voted Tuesday to bar permanent moorage on the outside of the Bremerton Marina breakwater, where two big yachts are currently moored.(Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)Buy Photo

Commissioners cited concern from port consultants that the floating breakwater wasn't designed to permanently moor boats and a desire to keep the 1,400-foot walkway open to the public as motivation for the policy change. Under rules agreed on at the Tuesday meeting, boats will be allowed to tie up on the outside of the breakwater for up to 96 hours at a time, with longer stays requiring staff approval.

Opponents of the policy change noted the port received engineering analysis in 2015 showing the outside breakwater could be retrofited to accommodate permanent moorage. But Port Commissioner Cary Bozeman, who was mayor of Bremerton when the marina was built, said his chief concern was keeping the breakwater available to the public.

"It's not about engineering," Bozeman said. "It's a matter of public access and what's right for the whole community."

About 20 people spoke against the policy change Tuesday and a petition with 150 signatures in support of keeping vintage boats on the breakwater was submitted to the commission. The unprotected edge of the breakwater is currently home to two historic yachts — El Primero and Northwind — both managed by mariner Christian Lint.

Several speakers said the vintage vessels were the only reason they make the trek to the end of the marina's main public dock. Joe Peterson, representing the former Coast Guard tug Comanche, said restricting moorage on the breakwater could dissuade other historic ships from visiting Bremerton.

"We like staying here for a week or two," Peterson told the commissioners. "And we have hundreds of visitors who come down here to see more than just water."

Others pointed out that leasing space on the breakwater would generate revenue for the marina, which operates in the red.

Former port Commissioner Bill Mahan and former city official Gary Sexton, both of whom were involved in designing the marina, testified the outside breakwater was built only to shelter boats inside the marina from wave action and to provide a waterfront gathering space for the public.

The breakwater "is really a marine park," Mahan said.

To bolster that point, port CEO Jim Rothlin produced a letter sent to Washington State Ferries before construction of the marina stating: "The Port of Bremerton does not intend to offer permanent moorage to any private boats on the unprotected east side of the breakwater."

The port has offered Lint space at a dock inside the marina, a move he's resisted because his boats would be secured behind a locked gate and not readily accessible to the public. After the breakwater policy change was confirmed Tuesday, Lint said he was still weighing his options.

New breakwater rules were among several policy tweaks approved by the commission. Most were aimed at enhancing security, lessening liability for the port and staying in compliance with state law.